Since I started my blog in 2013, I’ve been an academic student. Whether it was as an undergrad degree or completing my post-graduate schooling, I’ve only ever talked about my experiences reading from the perspective of a student. And now that I am finally “adulting” and starting the career that I’ve worked so hard for over the last few years, I’ve noticed quite a few changes to how I read. Below, I’m going to talk a bit about what these changes are and how learned to adapt to them.
Problem #1: Bye-Bye Morning Reading Session
Solution: Workout Instead
I’m a morning person so getting up early has never been a problem. Part of the reason I was able to read so many books in the past is due to the fact that I would get up earlier than I needed to so I could devour some pages. Getting that extra 20-60 minutes really helped me read books faster.
But now, I’m more pressed for time in the morning and simply can’t afford to “just read one more chapter”. I need to be somewhere at a specific time and the time it takes to read one chapter can vary from book to book. So my solution was to find something that had a set time-frame and so I decided to do my workout routines instead. Now, when I get home, I don’t have to dread working out and can instead reward myself by reading.
Problem #2: A Total Commute of 2 Hours Every Day
Solution: Listen to Audiobooks!
Commuting longer than 10 minutes is quite the change for me. It would be different if I was taking public transit because I would just read but I have to drive myself 1 hour each way. So I can’t really read while I drive and my voice can’t take me singing for 2 hours every day either 😉
Before I started my job, I used to just listen to nonfiction audiobooks. I had never listened to a fiction audiobook and so I decided it was worth a shot. I’m really glad I did because it is a great way to pass the time and I actually feel like I did something productive while I drive.
Problem #3: I Moved Back Home
Solution: Set A Reading Time.
I’m really lucky that I am able to move back home for my job. It’s saving me a lot of money which is great. But it is also a big change because I’ve lived on my own for the last 3 years. It’s so easy when you live alone to just read a book all day and not feel guilty but now that I live with other people again, I have more of a social life!
Now I make sure that I go to bed at a set time (which is hard to do when you work shift-work), usually 30 minutes before I want to sleep, so I can read a few chapters before I fall asleep.
These definitely aren’t “problems”, they’re simply changes to my everyday habits that I’ve formed over the last 6 years. I always try to seize every opportunity when it comes to reading (you can see some of my tips here) and that’s what I have to do here as well. It’s just really hard to change your every day habits.
Anyone else struggle with transitioning from student to functioning adult?
That’s such a great discussion, and one I can relate to for sure, as I did this transition from student to working life the past months as well – well, since last september but I feel like I’m still transitionning haha 🙂 I read on the commute just as well. Reading time is so precious ahah 🙂
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I will still be transitioning over the next few months too I think. There are so many other things I would like to do besides reading now that school is over so I’d like to incorporate those as well. But I’m still so conscious of my reading time because I do have those review commitments and reading is such an important part of my life in general as well.
Definitely! I started a full-time job in December, and my reading habits have definitely changed. So have my blogging ones. I have far less time to do either now, and am more careful with timing. I do have a commute of about 2 hours every day by train and that’s when I read. So every work day I do get to read for a while 😀
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I try to bring my book for my breaks as well when I’m at work but I have mixed success there. So I’m glad my commutes have been productive!
My blogging too has been impacted but not as much as I expected. Thankfully, I have most of my posts scheduled way in advance so I’m good on that front. But because my reading is a little less, I’m not churning out reviews as much as I would like.
I feel this SO MUCH. Ever since I started working full time it’s been hard to fit in EVERYTHING (social life, reading, blogging, exercising, sleeping, etc.) I vastly underestimated how much time I had as a student! I’m definitely more used to the task of balancing work and reading now, but sometimes one small deviation in my schedule can still throw me for a loop!
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I feel ya! Even going to the movies or out for dinner throws a wrench in my plans! It’s crazy because I never felt like I had that much time when I was a student between studying and classes. I think the commuting (which I didn’t have to do much of in school) is really kicking my bum here!
I feel like I will still be adjusting over the next few months while I try to add other things I’d like to do into my routine.